Black Walnut and White Ash Display Cabinet

Designed and built by: Bret Duffin

Date created: Winter 2011

Primary woods: white ash and black walnut

Dimensions: 32” wide x 17” deep x 79” high


As with most of my pieces, I start with a general idea of what I want to build and then an idea pops into my head whereupon I sketch it then build it. My idea for this piece was to have a cabinet that one could use to display a collection of some sort and I wanted to stay contemporary with the design but with some traditional lines, different but not off the wall. I wanted it to be finely crafted but not overly difficult so as not to get the price point too high.


Black walnut is a refined cabinetmaker’s wood which contrasts nicely with the more rustic white ash in both color and texture.


All of the moldings used are shop made. The curved, stack laminated walnut crown/cove was cut with a curved fence on the table saw. The curved waist trim was cut with the shaper using a curved fence.


The door rails and drawer fronts are curved laminated from re-sawn thin boards clamped and glued over a curved form. The drawers sides, fronts and backs are joined with hand cut dovetails. The drawers are suspended with hardwood runners.


Sliding blind dovetails were used to join the legs and rails of the lower assembly. The solid ash upper assembly is joined using dovetails cut with the table saw. The back of the upper it constructed using a frame and inset “V” grooved shop made paneling of ash.


The doors are curved but the stops for the glass were designed to accept flat glass for cost consideration. The knobs are “store bought” and may be replaced if something preferable is found or I may carve some from walnut.